Monday, August 22, 2011

Pain relievers are among the most prevalent used drugs which give temporary relief from pain. Most of the people consume painkillers (pain medications) daily to deal with different types of pain from a headache to chronic back pain. Pain killers suppress the chemicals formation in body which cause pain or bind to Central Nervous System’s opioid receptors and thereby reduce the pain. Many people become dependent on these drugs to such an extent that even for mild pain they go for it. So they become addicted to painkiller. Painkillers suppress pain but also increase the risk of other disorders. They have many side effects which differ from person to person and from drug to drug. Read on the article to know the most common side effects of pain killers.

There are 2 main types of painkiller drugs such as Narcotic and Non-Narcotic. Mostly non-narcotic painkillers are used. They include NSAIDs which stop the chemicals formation that cause pain in the body. Narcotic painkillers are divided in 2 groups like opiates and opioids. Opiates are alkaloids of narcotic opioid which are found naturally in poppy plant while opioids are chemical substances which bind to CNS’s opioid receptors. Narcotic painkillers are very strong and can be very addictive.

Side Effects of Pain Killers :

Constipation
The most troublesome side effect of painkillers is constipation. Constipation can become painful as well as lead to other symptoms if left untreated. So it is recommended to take some laxative substances or stool softener while you are using painkillers. Person taking painkillers should consume high fibrous diet, lots of water and other liquids. It also cause other stomach related problems like indigestion, nausea, stomach ache and diarrhea.

Drowsiness/Dizziness
Another side effect of painkillers is drowsiness/dizziness. They lead to drowsiness as they numb the body’s receptors that cause pain. A feeling of relaxation is caused by this. Drowsiness/dizziness can be dangerous if you are operating equipment, driving or doing a task which needs logical and sound judgment.

Cardiovascular Effects
Painkillers have dramatic effect on the function of your cardiovascular health. They slow the heart rate and even cause heart attack. Thrombosis (blood clot) and stroke can be also caused by painkillers. This heart beat fluctuations can occur if you consume too much or misuse painkillers.

Respiratory Problems
Respiratory problems are also commonly observed in the people who take too much painkillers. They can cause difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath and tightening of the chest. Even respiratory failure and death can be caused by them.

Psychological Problems
Psychological problems like inability to make a quick decision, hallucination, confusion, experience of unusually vivid dreams and even nightmares can be caused by painkillers. In some cases, people feel agitated.

Nausea
When you consume painkillers in a wrong way, they can cause nausea and vomiting. Some person can’t tolerate morphine that contained in painkillers so they experience nausea and vomiting. Nausea may be reduced if you take painkillers containing morphine with a meal or a glass of milk.

Dry Mouth
Some painkillers make the mouth dry as they decrease the production of the salivary glands. To treat the problem of dry mouth, you must drink water or other fluids.

Skin Problems
In some cases, skin problems can be caused by painkillers in the person who has sensitive skin all over the body. In some people development of hives is also seen.

Vision Problems
Painkillers may cause blurred vision problem in some cases. In some people, spidery lines at the edge of the vision are also observed. People experience vision problem if the side effects of pain killers are very strong and severe.

Aching Problems
Due to painkillers, aching problems can develop. A person may experience back pain, headache, neck pain, etc.